Ellen Lockyer, Alaska Public Media

Ellen Lockyer, Alaska Public Media
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APTI Reporter-Producer Ellen Lockyer started her radio career in the late 1980s, after a stint at bush Alaska weekly newspapers, the Copper Valley Views and the Cordova Times. When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Valdez Public Radio station KCHU needed a reporter, and Ellen picked up the microphone.
Since then, she has literally traveled the length of the state, from Attu to Eagle and from Barrow to Juneau, covering Alaska stories on the ground for the AK show, Alaska News Nightly, the Alaska Morning News and for Anchorage public radio station, KSKA
elockyer (at) alaskapublic (dot) org  |  907.550.8446 | About Ellen

Mat-Su Teacher Enters Running For Lieutenant Governor

A Matanuska-Susitna Borough teacher has filed as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Bob Williams, a former teacher of the year, says he’ll support education funding. Download Audio

Plane Crashes Near Katmai, No Injuries Reported

A small plane crashed on takeoff from a remote beach in Katmai National Park and Preserve on Sunday evening. Download Audio

Fight Percolating Over Chugiak Solid Waste Project

A fight is percolating over a planned solid waste project in Chugiak. Download Audio

Dispute Brews Over Chugiak Landfill Plan

A fight is percolating over a planned solid waste storage project in Chugiak. Eklutna, Inc, the Alaska Native corporation there, has requested Municipality of Anchorage approval to create a site for what the corporation is calling an "inert waste monofill" , but outraged neighbors are calling a "garbage dump".

KABATA Project Moves Forward

The Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority, or KABATA, held an open house in Wasilla on Tuesday evening.

Chugiak Singer-Songwriter Advances In National Competition

Chugiak singer-songwriter Robin Hopper had been named a quarterfinalist in a national competition sponsored by the Grammy Foundation. Download Audio

Photographer Aims To Help Struggling Non-Profits

Photographer Ron Levy came to Alaska to work as a park ranger during the 1980s. He started taking photos, first as a hobby, but soon made the jump to a professional career. Levy has recently returned from Mexico where he shot photos of environmental degradation. He says he wants to use his camera to help struggling non-profits accomplish their aims. Download Audio

Chuitna Coal Battle Heats Up

The state has turned down a petition that would have designated some state lands within the Chuitna River watershed as unsuitable for coal mining. Download Audio

Mat-Su Voters To Decide On Alcohol Tax

Matanuska Susitana Borough Assemblyman Steve Colligan wants an area-wide alcohol tax to help fund Borough expenses. Download Audio

FEMA Admin Keeping Close Eye On Yukon River Disaster Response

FEMA Region 10 Administrator Ken Murphy is in Alaska this week to keep an eye on disaster response for Yukon River flood victims. Murphy spoke with APRN on Wednesday on the agency’s ultimate goal of providing services to disaster survivors to get them back on their feet as soon as possible. As of July 21, FEMA has paid out over $1 million in awards to individuals and households in the damaged areas. Download Audio

DNR Commissioner Sullivan Deployed To Afghanistan

Alaska Natural Resources commissioner Dan Sullivan is on his way to Afghanistan. Sullivan was recalled to active duty with the US military, according to DNR spokesperson Elizabeth Bluemink. His deployment began on Sunday. Download Audio

State Agricultural Covenants Questioned

The Matanuska Valley's Point MacKenzie area once was home to more than a dozen dairy farms, but these days, there are only two? one ? milk producers operating there. And about 14 thousand acres of cleared pastureland and hayfields are now catching the eye of those who see development potential in the former farmland. The debate over what to do with state agricultural land is growing louder, and some are pushing to change the rules that keep the land in farming. Download Audio

Troopers Search For Missing Man Near Big Lake

A search is underway for an 81-year -old man reported missing on Tuesday. Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police are looking for Wallace Wilkinson Dunn, who was last seen at a soccer game on Thursday, July 11. Dunn’s family believes he left his Anchorage residence sometime the following day, headed for a cabin in Big Lake. Download Audio

Weed Warriors Seek To Stop Invasive Pests

Weed Whacking Warriors tackled invasive plants this weekend during an annual event sponsored by the Palmer Soil and Water Conservation District. KSKA's Ellen Lockyer went along with them on a search and destroy mission to eradicate non-native plants.

Farmers Could Be Reimbursed For Supply Transportation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to help Alaska farm producers with a program aimed at reimbursing them for at least some of the costs of transporting supplies to the state. Download Audio

Group Getting To Root Of Non-Native Plant Invasion

Weed Whacking Warriors tackled invasive plants last weekend during an annual event sponsored by the Palmer Soil and Water Conservation District. KSKA’s Ellen Lockyer went along with them on a search and destroy mission to eradicate non-native plants. Download Audio

Point MacKenzie Townsite Plan Raises Community Ire

The Point MacKenzie Community Council met on July 10 to air concerns about a proposed Point MacKenzie townsite. Download Audio

Former State Biologist Suggests Voluntarily Not Fishing To Boost Chinook Escapement

Chinook salmon runs are poor all over the state, but especially so in the Matanuska Susitna Borough, where sports fishing restrictions have been in place most of the season. Now a former state fisheries biologist says fishermen could help boost Chinook escapement by voluntarily not fishing at all. Download Audio

Investigation Continues For Soldotna Crash

The third and final NTSB press conference on the plane crash in Soldotna was held late Wednesday afternoon in Anchorage. Download Audio

Elodea Spreading In Southcentral Alaska

Pilots of floatplanes could unwittingly be spreading a dangerous invasive weed throughout Southcentral Alaska.  Elodea, an aquatic plant that chokes lakes and slow running rivers, has been found in several lakes in the Anchorage area, and at least one water body near Fairbanks, and authorities are warning that the plant’s spread threatens irreversible harm to fish habitat. Download Audio